This Is London - 6 December 2019

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CONTENTS

Events 4

Christmas Season at Royal Albert Hall

Queen’s House Greenwich Ice Rink

Dick Whittington at Hackney Empire

Music 8

&Juliet

The Red Shoes at Sadler’s Wells

The Mozartists celebrate Mozart 250

Exhibitions 12

The Danger Tree at National Army Museum

Canteen opens at LT Museum

RAF Museum: Writing Home for Christmas

Theatre 18

Touching The Void

The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe

Proprietor Julie Jones

Publishing Consultant Terry Mansfield CBE

Associate Publisher Beth Jones

Editorial Lucie Henry Sue Webster Eleanor Collett

© This is London Magazine Limited

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Whilst every care is taken in the preparation of this

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supplied, neither the Publishers nor their agents

accept responsibility for any damage, errors or

omissions, however these may be caused.

Welcome to London

This Christmas, Alexandra Palace are presenting a programme of festive

events, from hit West End show Peter Pan Goes Wrong to pantomime

Pinocchio on Ice and Santa again taking up residence in the East Court.

The ice rink, which features in Emma Thompson’s new rom-com

Last Christmas, will present a new pantomime production of Pinocchio on Ice.

This magical retelling of the classic fairy tale will be performed by talented

skaters with a performance from Emma Moore, a previous West-End Matilda.

Following their award-winning success with The Play That Goes Wrong,

Mischief Theatre’s West End hit Peter Pan Goes Wrong, a riotous spin on

J.M. Barrie’s tale, will be at Ally Pally’s Victorian theatre from 13 December.

Santa’s Grotto also returns to the East Court from 6-22 December, where

children of all ages will be able to meet and have their photos taken with

Father Christmas.

VISITOR INFORMATION

Emergencies 999 Police Ambulance Fire

24 Hour Casualty 020 8746 8000

Dentistry 0808 155 3256

Victim Support 0845 30 30 900

free and confidential service

Visit London 020 7234 5833

Heathrow Airport 0844 335 1801

Gatwick Airport 0844 892 0322

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Optician 7581 6336 Watches 7493 5916

Weather 0870 9000100

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The Queen’s House.

OUTDOOR ICE RINK TO OPEN AT

THE QUEEN’S HOUSE GREENWICH

The new Queen’s House ice-rink

makes for a memorable skating

experience this festive season. Set

against the stunning backdrop of The

Queen’s House, visitors will have the

opportunity to skate in the beautiful

surroundings of a UNESCO World

Heritage site. An unforgettable

experience to share with friends and

family, it’s a great location to take to the

ice this year.

What better treat than to skate in front

of the ‘House of Delight’ built especially

for James I’s Queen? Visitors will be

able to soak up the beautiful

surroundings of Greenwich Park, take in

the spectacular views across London

and enjoy a range of winter warmers

from the food and drink stalls at the

only outdoor ice rink in south London

this Christmas.

To make a day of it, visit the award

winning Cutty Sark, standing on the

world-famous Prime Meridian, see a

Planetarium show at the Royal

Observatory, or do some Christmas

shopping at Greenwich Market. With

easy transport links, Greenwich is just

8 minutes from London Bridge, or arrive

by boat along the River Thames.

CHRISTMAS SEASON AT THE

ROYAL ALBERT HALL

Emma Bunton, Trevor Nelson and

Michael Giacchino will each star in the

Royal Albert Hall’s Christmas season,

alongside jazz legends, the London

Community Gospel Choir and Birmingham

Royal Ballet.

Emma Bunton brings her Christmas

party to the Hall on 6 December with

famous friends in tow. Emma has sold over

85 million records as a member of the

all-conquering Spice Girls, the most

successful female pop group of all time.

Later in the season, Trevor Nelson

presents a night of soul classics, and

Hollywood composer Michael Giacchino

leads an all-star variety show.

The company of The Nutcracker.

The Hall’s festive season also includes

14 of the venue’s famous sing-along carol

concerts – including a relaxed performance

– as well as Handel’s Messiah, an evening

with Katherine Jenkins, the return of Guy

Barker’s Big Band Christmas, and a Films

in Concert presentation of E. T. the Extra

Terrestrial.

Returning shows include Birmingham

Royal Ballet’s specially adapted production

of The Nutcracker, which opened to fivestar

reviews in 2017 (28-31 December)

and takes centre stage for seven

performances, a festive helping of the

venue’s introduction to classical musical,

My Christmas Orchestral Adventure, and

Guy Barker’s Big Band Christmas, a jazzy

slant on the season that has featured star

turns from the likes of Paloma Faith, Clarke

Peters, Kurt Elling and Vanessa Haynes.

And, Mark Kermode will present an

evening of classic Christmas film music

performed live by the Royal Philharmonic

Concert Orchestra. Inspired by the sounds

of Christmas on screen, the repertoire will

draw on music from the likes of It’s a

Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Home

Alone, A Nightmare Before Christmas, and

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

For further information visit the website

at www.royalalberthall.com/christmas

Photo: Annabel Moeller


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DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT

AT HACKNEY EMPIRE

Hackney Empire's Dick Whittington

and His Cat promises its trademark

magic and spectacle in a dazzling

reimagining of the classic rags-to-riches

tale which is currently playing through

to 5 January, starring Grande Dame

Clive Rowe, as Sarah the Cook, who

returns following an award-winning East

End comeback last year to now mark his

13th Hackney panto appearance, plus

panto debuts from Tarinn Callender

(Hamilton) as Dick Whittington and

Annette McLaughlin as Queen Rat.

Dick Whittington and His Cat marks

a record 21st Christmas pantomime

from writer and director Susie McKenna

with original music by Steven Edis. The

cast also includes Hackney favourites

Kat B and Tony Whittle as Vincent the

Cat and Alderman Fitzwarren, and

Christina Tedders as Alice Fitzwarren.

In Jamaica, young Dick Whittington is

boarding the Empire Windrush, chasing

the dream of a new life in the gold-paved

streets of glorious London. Little does

he know, magic awaits him and his

enchanted feline friend far across the

ocean... He’ll embark on the adventure of

a lifetime: reuniting with his Mum,

fighting rodent royalty, meeting an

eccentric fairy and winning the heart of

his true love – all whilst trying to find

fame and fortune.

For tickets, telephone the box office

on 020 8985 2424.

ST PANCRAS INTERNATIONAL

STATION LANCÔME CHRISTMAS TREE

Lancôme have teamed up with

St Pancras International to unveil this

year’s sparkling festive installation,

inspired by Paris’ iconic landmark,

The Eiffel Tower. The magnifique 36-foot

installation embodies the elegance and

cheerful spirit of the world’s largest French

beauty brand. For those not lucky enough

to be visiting the city of love this

Christmas season, Lancôme have brought

the magic of Paris to St Pancras

International, home of the Eurostar, with a

magical light show – replicating the

original tower’s iconic display. The show,

with over 1,300 flashing LED lights, will

be visible almost 600 times during the

festive season.

It’s not just station visitors who will

be able to enjoy the display, as all

1,500 fragrance bottles used for the

installation will also be donated to the

international cancer support charity,

Look Good Feel Better, which helps

boost the physical and emotional

wellbeing of women, men and young

adults undergoing cancer treatment.

Giovanni Valentini, General Manager

of Lancôme UKI said, ‘We couldn’t ask

for a better gift this season than to bring

Lancôme’s happy and festive spirit to the

heart of St Pancras International. Our

Christmas installation in the form on the

Eiffel Tower symbolizes everything the

brand stands for: happy, generous and

effortlessly chic ‘

GINGERBREAD WONDERLAND AT

GERMAN GYMNASIUM

German Gymnasium’s outdoor terrace

will be transformed into a magical,

sugar-filled wonderland in the heart of

King’s Cross this winter when guests

will be welcomed to keep warm with a

specially designed cocktail list while

relaxing under a cluster of wooden huts

that will be decorated with gingerbread

style décor.

Decorating a gingerbread house is

one of Germany’s most magical

Christmas traditions, and German

Gymnasium has pulled out all the

sugar-themed stops for its gingerbread

terrace. Strings of festive garlands will

be draped over the peaks of wooden

huts complete with festoon lighting,

ambient red lanterns will twinkle

amongst mini gingerbread house lights

on the tables and there will be piles of

cosy blankets for guests to snuggle up

under and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Guests will also be able to order one

of the bespoke sweet-themed cocktails

from the terrace’s outdoor bar which

features a Gingerbread Old Fashioned

and Maker’s Milk, which is also

available in a sharing size.

German Gymnasium’s gingerbread

terrace will be open all over the festive

season including on Christmas Eve (all

day), Christmas Day (12.00-16.00),

Boxing Day (all day) and New Year’s Eve.


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Photos: Johan Persson.

&JULIET

Shaftesbury Theatre

For over a decade now, the jukebox

musical has been the mainstay of

London’s West End. &Juliet is among

the first to push this subgenre to its,

perhaps inevitable, conclusion. Gone is

the need for a film soundtrack or

artist/band’s discography to cohere the

narrative, and in its place is a plethora of

‘90s and ‘00s pop songs, each with a

singular thing in common: they all share

the music and lyrics of prolific Swedish

hitmaker, Max Martin.

In many ways, this is a welcome

departure from the typical jukebox

formula. However, Martin’s songs struggle

to earn their place in this reimagining of

Romeo & Juliet, which takes a dynamic

premise as its starting point: what would

have happened if Juliet hadn’t killed

herself at the end? The potential answers

to this question are manifold but in the

case of &Juliet, something in the ‘remixed’

narrative never quite takes off. This is

largely due to the fact that Martin’s hits

rarely serve the story, or indeed, the

emotional life and intention of its

characters. Instead, most songs feel

Miriam-Teak Lee and company in &Juliet.

shoehorned in, so much so that their first

few bars often induce a knowing chuckle

from the audience. It’s fun to hear Britney

Spears being appropriated by

Shakespeare’s Juliet, but it’s equally

frustrating that the music and lyrics bear

such thin relevance to the story being

enacted onstage.

David West Read’s syrupy and

sub-plot laden book does little to flesh out

the show’s music or its theme of female

Arun Blair-Mangat (May)

empowerment. With such a stunning

central performance from Miriam-Teak Lee

as Juliet, it’s disappointing that she’s

given so little to work with on the page.

The reclaiming of Juliet as an

autonomous woman is deeply refreshing

and yet Read’s writing fails to provide

much in the way of a personality for her –

relying instead on a few blandly comic

tricks, such as Juliet’s oddly repetitive

mispronunciation of words. At its weakest

points, the dialogue falls into a bizarre

mishmash of Gen Z insta-slang and

cringe-worthy Dad jokes.

But none of these issues can eclipse

the indisputable talent of the production’s

cast. Lee’s commanding presence and

electrifying commitment bring a glorious

energy to every song that she sings. It’s a

joy to hear bubblegum pop being resung

by someone with such a tremendous

voice. Her performance is matched by

many in the cast – Jordan Luke Gage’s

Romeo and Melanie La Barrie’s Nurse are

particularly vivacious. Paloma Young’s

highstreet fashion meets mock-

Elizabethan costume design is inspired

and plunges the aesthetic of the

production into a high-camp, visual feast.

There is also some important work on

gender identity being showcased here,

with the inclusion of Juliet’s non-binary

best friend, May. LGBTQ+ rights could be

more powerfully addressed if the narrative

were opened up and the songs more

artfully weaved in.

Through all its gloss, &Juliet somehow

has the power to win over audiences, and

for a pop-music lover like myself, did

indeed do so. But given such holes in the

material, I couldn’t help thinking that I’d

rather have seen this stellar cast

performing the songs in the form of a

bombastic and unapologetic concert.

Tim Hutchinson


Photo: Johan Persson.

Photo: Hugo Glendinning

THE RED SHOES RETURNS TO

SADLER’S WELLS

A sell-out before its world premiere

season opened in 2016, Matthew

Bourne’s triumphant adaptation of the

legendary film The Red Shoes returns to

Sadlers Wells this Christmas, having

won two Olivier Awards and dazzled

audiences across the UK and the USA.

The Red Shoes is a tale of obsession,

possession and one girl's dream to be the

greatest dancer in the world. Victoria Page

lives to dance but her ambitions become a

battleground between the two men who

inspire her passion. Set to the achingly

romantic music of golden-age Hollywood

composer Bernard Herrmann, it is

orchestrated by Terry Davies and played

by the New Adventures Orchestra.

THIS IS LONDON spoke to Matthew

Bourne to find out what made him want to

bring the famous film to the West End.

Matthew Bourne.

What made you decide to transform The

Red Shoes from screen to stage?

I first saw The Red Shoes when I was

very young, and it had a great influence

on me. I didn’t really know anything

about that world as I was more into

musical theatre and film musicals. My

parents didn’t go to the ballet. It was an

introduction to an extraordinary world

which was glamorous and eccentric and

full of these larger-than-life characters.

It was also this great story about people

who spend their lives being creative,

creating beautiful things and the passion

they have to do that.

Around the time I was thinking about

what my next production would be,

I found a list from about 20 years ago of

pieces that I wanted to do at some point,

and it was on there. It was always in the

back of my head really, the idea. It was

certainly a long head ambition of mine.

The relationships between the main

characters of Lermontov, Page and

Julian Craster are complicated – how

challenging was it to portray that

triangle?

It was a challenge to tell the whole

story of the human characters and the

central love story and conflict. All those

things have to be told through dance. It

is bringing these things to a different

medium. The larger-than-life emotions

in The Red Shoes are good for dance.

You are already on to a winner with

those obsessive relationships and

passion and conflict; and then you have

the central love story and conflict

between the girl who wants to be a great

dancer and the impresario who wants

her to devote her whole life to that and

the young composer she falls in love

with. For these characters, the work is

more important than anything else in

their lives.

Finally, what makes London such a

special place to visit at Christmas?

I am a Londoner, born and bred,

going back several generations. It’s the

most gloriously diverse and surprising

city and it really comes alive at

Christmas. There is so much to offer for

lovers of art, music, dance, drama and

film. 2019 marks our 18th consecutive

Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells. For

me it wouldn’t be Christmas really,

without being there!

For tickets to The Red Shoes,

telephone 020 7863 8222.

V&A BICENTENARY-INSPIRED

CHRISTMAS TREE ‘FREEDOM’

A spectacular Christmas Tree which

has been gifted to the V&A Museum by

the city of Coburg – the birthplace of

Prince Albert – forms the centrepiece of

the museum’s bicentenary programming

this year, which marked the 200th

anniversary of Queen Victoria and Prince

Albert’s births. The work is a re-imagining

of the Christmas tree which evokes

tranquillity and joy. The tree is formed out

of a series of poles which suspend 200

ornately folded white paper origami birds.

9


10

Photo: Sam Taylor.

THE GREAT GATSBY – IMMERSIVE

THEATRE AT ITS BEST

Now transferred to the heart of

Mayfair, The Great Gatsby is the UK’s

longest running immersive experience,

promising audiences an interactive

theatrical performance over themed

cocktails as they join in the scandalous

stories that weave themselves around the

legendary world of Jay Gatsby.

This adaptation of the literary classic

by F. Scott Fitzgerald puts audiences

centre stage as the action unfolds around

them. Guests even get the opportunity to

turn their hands, or should that be feet, to

learning some classic Charleston moves

through the evening.

Set in an historic building which was

home to Queen Victoria’s Rifles

Association until 2017, the venue is

spread across 32,000ft with scenes

taking place in multiple rooms decorated

to throw the action back into the era of

opulent parties and jazz. The pace is fast

and vibrant, keeping even those familiar

Gatsby’s Daisy.

with the plot on the edge of their seats.

The show ends with a dramatic finale

before the actors invite the audience to

join them for a post-show drink to send

them on their way.

For those who want more than just a

performance, producers Immersive/LDN

have teamed up with catering partners

Flavourology to create a bespoke fine

dining experience before the show

begins. Hosted by Gatsby’s faithful

butler, dishes are inspired by the places

Jay and Daisy met and lived, truths or

fables from Gatsby’s past, and

ingredients popular in the roaring

1920s. The menu includes an amusebouche

of buttermilk fried chicken with

champagne hollandaise and caviar ‘From

St Louis to West Egg’, a main of

bourbon cured salmon with celeriac

puree and remoulade ‘Bootleg Bourbon

Salmon’ and a pudding of spotted dick

under a white chocolate dome with

custard parfait and salted caramel source

‘Gatsby was an Oxford Man’ (all with

vegan alternatives), as

audiences begin their

journey into the world of

Gatsby with an unforgettable

edible adventure.

Step back into the Roaring

1920’s for an immersive

evening of glamour and

scandal with the infamous

Jay Gatsby – a real

Christmas treat!

Sara Macann

Photo: Helen Maybanks.

CHRISTMAS SHOWS

THE NUTCRACKER

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s specially-adapted

production opened to five-star reviews in

2017 and takes centre stage for seven

performances from 28 – 31 December.

ROYAL ALBERT HALL

Kensington Gore, SW7 (020 7589 8212)

GOLDILOCKS & THE THREE BEARS

The home of pantomime presents a festive

extravaganza packed with riotous comedy

routines, special effects, hair-raising stunts,

international circus acts and an all star cast.

LONDON PALLADIUM

Argyll Street, W1 (020 7087 7747)

THE SNOWMAN

Now in its record-breaking 21st year,

Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s twinkling

production returns as a magical mix of

exquisite dancing and live music.

PEACOCK THEATRE

Portugal Street, WC2 (020 7863 8222)

The Snowman.

Photo: Tristam Kenton.

DICK WHITTINGTON

A dazzling Hackney-style pantomime of a

classic rags-to-riches tale with laugh-out-loud

topical gags, knockabout comedy and showstopping

song and dance numbers.

HACKNEY EMPIRE

Mare Street, E8 (020 8985 2424)

THE NUTCRACKER

English National Ballet’s enchanting

production of the classic Christmas ballet.

Over 100 dancers and musicians bring the

story to life with exquisite dancing, beautiful

sets and Tchaikovsky’s score played live.

LONDON COLISEUM

St Martin’s Lane, WC2 (020 7845 9300)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

An immersive experience accompanied by a

two course feast. Enjoy parlour games,

Christmas songs and a little spirited trickery

as the audience warms the heart of the

bah-humbugging miser, Scrooge.

SCROOGE’S PARLOUR

Immersive LDN, 56 Davies Street, Mayfair W1


The Mozartists and Ian Page.

1770 – YEAR MOZART TURNED 14

– WIGMORE HALL CONCERT

Ian Page and The Mozartists will

enter the sixth year of their ambitious

and visionary MOZART 250 series on

9 January at Wigmore Hall, looking into

the life, works and influences of Mozart

250 years on. Featuring company

Associate Artists Samantha Clarke and

Ida Ränzlöv, the retrospective concert

offers a diverse overview of 1770,

pairing dramatic minor-key symphonies

by Vanhal and J.C. Bach with arias and

duets by Gluck, Haydn, Jommelli and

Mozart.

In 1770 Mozart turned 14, and during

2020 Page and The Mozartists will

present works by Mozart and his

contemporaries written in 1770,

including a three-day mini-festival at

Cadogan Hall (6-8 March), exploring the

music Mozart composed and heard in

Italy that year. The weekend will feature

symphonies, concert arias and extracts

from the vocally spectacular opera

Mitridate, re di Ponto, and the

opportunity to discover a number of

operatic works that Mozart heard during

his time in Italy. These include

Guglielmi’s Ruggiero, Piccinni’s Cesare

in Egitto, Mysliveček’s La Nitteti and

Jommelli’s Armida abbandonata, some

of which have not been performed since

the 18th century.

Ian Page, founder and artistic director

of The Mozartists, writes: ‘1770

culminated for Mozart with the

triumphant première of Mitridate, re di

Ponto, the first great success of his

fledgling career, but he had spent the

whole year in Italy, absorbing the wide

range of music that he heard during the

course of his travels. 250 years later,

our ‘Mozart in Italy’ weekend in March

will be the first ever in-depth

retrospective of the music that Mozart

composed and heard during the course

of this formative trip, and will

incorporate music by Guglielmi,

Piccinni, Celoniati, Myslive ek,

Jommelli, Galuppi and Gasparini as well

as by the 14-year-old Mozart himself.’

Ian Page.

Photo: Martin Kendrick.

Photo: Sheila Rock.

CHOIRS OF ST CATHARINE’S COLLEGE

CAMBRIDGE – CAROLS BY WOMEN

On Saturday 7 December, The Choirs

of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge,

under the direction of Edward Wickham,

will give a concert at London’s Kings

Place to celebrate the Festive season

and champion living female composers.

As part of the venue’s Venus

Unwrapped strand, The choirs of

St Catharine’s College will create a

sequence of ‘lessons and carols’ with a

feminine slant. In this special sequence

of contemporary carols, female

composers and medieval chant will be

performed alongside imaginative,

secular readings by female authors and

poets. Actor and writer Helen Duff will

read between music by Sally Beamish,

Nicola LeFanu, Stevie Wishart, Hannah

Kendall and a specially commissioned

carol from Diana Burrell.

Helen Wallace, Programme Director,

Kings Place Music Foundation, said:

‘This concert by The Choirs of

St Catharine’s College holds a very

special part in our venue’s ‘Venus

Unwrapped’ strand to celebrate living

female composers. It was important to

me to provide a platform here for the

UK’s first all-girl chapel choir. Edward

Wickham has been such a champion

both of female composers and singers,

and this concert was a great opportunity

for Kings Place to commission Diana

Burrell, a hugely gifted and inspiring

composer whose music I’ve long

admired.’

The concert on Saturday evening

begins at 19.30. Tickets from the Box

Office telephone 020 7520 1490 or

online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

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12

THE DANGER TREE AT THE NATIONAL

ARMY MUSEUM

Immerse yourself in personal stories

from the First World War with The Danger

Tree, a captivating display of oil paintings

and augmented reality. Created by painter

Scarlett Raven (SR) and digital artist Marc

Marot (MM), the exhibition at the National

Army Museum brings to life the stories of

soldiers who fought in the First World War.

The exhibition takes its name from the

only tree left standing on the battlefield at

Beaumont-Hamel, and features original oil

paintings evoking the devastation of the

conflict. Behind these multi-layered pieces

are soldiers' stories narrated by actors

Sean Bean and Christopher Eccleston.

Featuring the work of celebrated war poets

Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, it

explores themes of loss, honour and

hope. This Is London spoke to the artists

to try to understand more about this

innovative exhibition;

The Danger Tree is described as an

‘Augmented Reality’ project. What does

that mean?

MM: We use Augmented Reality as a

way of bringing static paintings to life.

Using their phones or the iPads and

headphones that we provide, the exhibition

viewers simply point the Artivive app at the

paintings and poetry, music animation and

stories are revealed, overlaid on Scarlett’s

‘stop motion’ animation shot as she creates

the paintings.

How did you choose Sean Bean and

Christopher Eccleston to be the ‘voices’ of

the exhibition?

MM: We felt that the poetry of the First

World War was incredibly powerful and

was a succinct way of getting ideas

across. Sean Bean and Christopher

Ecclestone had performed some of the

poetry for a Channel 4 series which we

had seen and we felt that their

performances were incredibly powerful.

Both of them really understood the words

and were angry as they performed.

Where, or who, do you draw inspiration

from?

MM: My grandfather by marriage was

called Eddie Bigwood and he died in 1998

aged 100. He filled me with his emotional

stories and he had a way of transporting

me back to his youth as he told them,

often weeping with the emotion.

SR: Everything. I feel like this exhibition

has defined who I am. I draw inspiration

from World War I poetry, people’s honest

last words. The First World War poetry is

the purest honest reminder of what people

suffered.

You have toured this exhibition across the

UK, what makes London special?

MM: I lived and worked in London for

over 30 years and I have always felt that

its cosmopolitan nature helped to shape

my emotional understanding of the world.

The Danger Tree exhibition couldn’t have

happened without exposure to so many

different types of people.

SR: I grew up in London. I lived there for

24 years. London was my home for most

my life. It will always hold a special place

in my heart.

The National Army Museum is a big

space to fill, was that daunting? Or, did it

give you more scope to include more

work?

MM: It is the biggest honour to exhibit

at The National Army Museum. We’ve

dedicated the last five years of our lives to

The Danger Tree. It’s a subject matter we

believe passionately in. We want an outlet

for people to tell their stories. We felt

completely prepared and couldn’t have

imagined a more beautiful building with

such history and meaning. The museum

was a perfect space for its finale and the

museum gave us access to even more

material and stories to incorporate in the

paintings.

What’s your favourite spot in London?

SR: I love being on the train going into

Victoria station and seeing the abandoned

Battersea Power Station. It reminds me of

my favourite album cover by Pink Floyd. I

feel like I’m home.

MM: My favourite place in London is

Saint Peters Square in Chiswick. I worked

there for 18 years in the music industry,

ending up as the President of Island

records. It’s shaped the rest of my life and I

have incredibly fond memories of the

place.

The Danger Tree will run until 5 January.


14

ALL CHANGE AT LONDON

TRANSPORT MUSEUM’S CANTEEN

It’s All Change! at London Transport

Museum as a new cafe bar overlooking

Covent Garden Piazza opens this week.

Canteen takes its name from the static

and mobile canteens that used to cater

for London Transport workers during the

1940s and 1950s.

Run by high-street favourite Benugo,

Canteen offers an all-day menu that

features British classics, and cocktails

that pay homage to iconic moments in

the development of London’s transport

network – the Elizabeth Line and the

Routemaster.

The stylish interior celebrates London

Transport’s design legacy as one of the

world’s most recognisable brands, making

use of iconic poster artwork, Tube maps,

reclaimed signs, tiles and original seats.

Light fittings include some that were

planned, but never installed at

Embankment station. These reflect the

design of the Bostwick gate which is used

to secure Tube stations during closing

hours, and down lighters from the Bond

Street station upgrade project.

Canteen also features wooden benches

that were found in the basements of

Wembley Park and Gloucester Road

stations as well as salvaged luggage racks

from 1960s decommissioned A stock

trains. And Mind the Gap! as you grab

that Instagrammable moment on the train

track floor graphic.

Canteen is open to the public as well

as visitors to the Museum from 09:30 to

19:30 Wednesday to Saturday and 09:30

to 18:30 Sunday to Tuesday. Visitors can

enjoy breakfast, snacks, lunch, afternoon

tea, pre-theatre dining, nibbles or just

drinks from the bar. As you might

expect, the menu includes Great British

Specials such as fish and chips, bangers

and mash and full English breakfast

skillet, grilled flat iron steak and chips,

burgers, salads and good puds.

As a seasonal choice, the brand new

Moorgate Metropolitan Maze disused

station tour has been added to the latest

season of Hidden London tours, just in

time to buy as an unusual Christmas gift.

Visitors will be able to discover a secret

underworld of atmospheric dark passages

as they explore the wonders of Moorgate

station, the portal into the City and one of

London’s first Underground stations.

One of the highlights of the tour is

seeing an original Greathead Shield from

a planned tunnel extension, abandoned

in 1904. The shield was a cylindrical

tunnelling machine with an extended rim

that supported the earth and protected

the workers inside, used to dig London’s

Tube tunnels from the 1870s to the

1980s. The relic, which has been left

abandoned on site, is the only complete

one of its kind on the network.

Moorgate station opened in 1865 as

Moorgate Street on the first extension

of the Metropolitan line.

ALICE: CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER

AT THE V&A IN 2020

The V&A’s landmark exhibition in

2020, Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser will

celebrate one of the most captivating,

imaginative and inspiring stories of all

time. Offering an immersive and mindbending

journey down the rabbit hole, this

fantastical exhibition will explore Alice in

Wonderland’s origins, adaptations and

reinventions over 158 years, charting its

evolution from manuscript to a global

phenomenon beloved by all ages.

Through over 300 objects spanning

film, performance, fashion, art, music

and photography, the V&A will be the

first museum to fully explore the cultural

impact of Alice and her ongoing

inspiration for leading creatives, from

Salvador Dalí and The Beatles to Little

Simz and Thom Browne. Highlights

include Lewis Carroll’s original

handwritten manuscript, illustrations by

John Tenniel, Ralph Steadman and

Disney, stage costumes, fashion from

Iris van Herpen and photography from

Tim Walker and Annie Leibovitz.

Since the publication of the original

manuscript of Alice’s Adventures in

Wonderland in 1865, the books have

never been out of print.

'Cheshire cat', psychedelic poster by

Joseph McHugh, published by East

Totem West. USA, 1967.


Photo: Jeff Moore.

BODY WORLDS CELEBRATES

50 MILLION VISITORS

On Wednesday 27 November, the

renowned global anatomy exhibition

Body World saw their 50 millionth body

through the doors, a record-breaking

number that makes Dr Gunther von

Hagens’ famous attraction the most

successful touring exhibition of all time.

Body Worlds has captivated and

resonated with people worldwide, in over

140 cities in 34 countries across six

continents, with their flagship museum

in the heart of London. Taking visitors

on a fascinating anatomical journey

using real human bodies preserved

using von Hagens’ ‘plastination’ process,

the exhibition encourages visitors to

reassess the way they treat their bodies

and appreciate the complexities of what

goes on beneath the skin in a fun and

engaging way.

Since opening over a year ago, Body

Worlds London has run a busy

programme of educational and fun

activities to encourage visitors to explore

and engage with the human body, with

everything from Junior Doctor days for

budding young doctors, to Artist Days to

appreciate the human form, to their

Lates programme boasting wellbeing

sessions to collaborations with key

health organisations. All these activities

are getting people to consider a better,

more balanced lifestyle, with a

staggering 68% of visitors leaving Body

Worlds London wanting to be healthier.

Body Worlds is situated at The

London Pavilion, 1 Piccadilly Circus,

W1J 0DA. www.bodyworlds.co.uk

WRITING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

AT THE RAF MUSEUM

This festive season, the Royal Air

Force Museum is to take part in the

Letters Home trail, inspired by letters

sent during the war from personnel

serving overseas, to their loved ones

back at home. Families will be given a

letter created using real extracts, but to

read the letter in full, youngsters will

need to search the hangars to find all the

missing words. With nine words to find

across huge hangars packed full of

aircraft, it’s no easy task and will require

lots of eagle eyed youngsters!

To assist with the search, which takes

place daily until 5 January, the Museum

has produced a Letters Home trail sheet

so you can fill in the gaps as you make

your way around the hangars in search

for the missing words.

RAF Museum Public Events Manager

(London), Ella Hewitt said: ‘The Letters

Home trail uses real letters from the

RAF Museum’s archive, sent during the

First and Second World War from

serving personnel in the Armed Forces

to their family, friends and loved ones

over the Christmas period. They talk of

their Christmas experience whilst

deployed overseas, some are sad other

are humorous, but all are sent with great

fondness. By combining extracts from

several letters, the Museum has created

its own ‘letter home’ and now requires

the help of families to complete it.’

MASTERPLAN 25 CELEBRATES

25TH ANNIVERSARY OF OASIS

Masterplan 25 – Michael Spencer

Jones – Iconic & Unseen Photographs

of OASIS is on view at h Club London in

celebration of the 25th anniversary year

of Oasis’ debut album Definitely Maybe.

The exhibition features the work of

celebrated photographer Michael

Spencer Jones, whose era-defining body

of work has taken its place amongst the

most iconic imagery in British rock

history and has become as memorable

as the music it represents. Spencer

Jones’ imagery is permanently

associated with and inextricably linked

to the visual identity of Oasis and the

phenomenon of their ascendancy

throughout the nineties. Described as a

‘finely nuanced artist’ and ‘visual risk

taker’, it was Spencer Jones who shot

the memorable cover to Oasis’ 1994

debut album Definitely Maybe. He later

submerged a Rolls Royce in a swimming

pool for the 1997 album Be Here Now.

Masterplan25 will showcase artwork

from three of Oasis’ earliest and most

influential albums; Definitely Maybe

(1994), What’s The Story (1995) and Be

Here Now (1997), with scenes re-created

giving visitors the chance to create

iconic poses. The Definitely Maybe room

set is sure to be a highlight of the

exhibition, featuring props used in the

cover image.

Visitors will also be able to view

original artwork from a selection of

Oasis’ singles including Supersonic

(1994), Live Forever (1994), Cigarettes

& Alcohol (1994), Whatever (1994),

Some Might Say (1995), Roll With It

(1995), Wonderwall (1995) and Don’t

Look Back In Anger (1995).

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16

ANDREW GIFFORD: A BALTIC JOURNEY AT JOHN MARTIN GALLERY

Standing on the frozen waters of the River Neva in

February, Andrew Gifford began his first paintings in the

extreme conditions of a Russian winter.

Despite blizzards and

temperatures that fell below

minus 20°, Gifford’s

paintings reveal an

extraordinary vibrancy in

the richly coloured

buildings, the winter light

and the striking rhythms of

the pines. The cycle of

paintings reached its

conclusion later in the year,

this time in Finland and

Sweden, paintings that

seem to bask in the warmth

of the northern summer

light and which complete an

incredible visual journey

through the Baltic's changing seasons.

A new exhibition of his work is on

view at John Martin Gallery,

38 Albemarle Street, W1S 4JG. Further

details online at www.jmlondon.com

DORA MAAR AT TATE MODERN

Tate Modern is presenting the first UK

retrospective of the work of Dora Maar

(1907–97) whose provocative

photographs and photomontages became

celebrated icons of surrealism. Featuring

over 200 works from a career spanning

more than six decades, the exhibition

shows how Maar’s eye for the unusual

also translated to her commercial

commissions, social documentary

photographs, and paintings – key aspects

of her practice which have, until now,

remained little known.

Born Henriette Théodora Markovitch,

Dora Maar grew up between Argentina

and Paris and studied decorative arts

and painting before switching her focus

to photography. In doing so, Maar

became part of a generation of women

who seized the new professional

opportunities offered by advertising and

the illustrated press.

Church of the Saviour Through the

Trees, Last Sunlight, St Petersburg

Oil on canvas, 45 x 43 inches, 114 x

109 cms

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS AT THE

POSTAL MUSEUM

This festive season, The Postal

Museum will be celebrating with a host

of Victorian-themed crafty activities for

both adults and children, as well as

giving its underground Mail Rail ride a

seasonal twist. Every time we dust off

our decorations and adorn our tree, send

a Christmas card, or pull a cracker, it’s

the Victorians we have to thank, as these

much-loved festive traditions all

originated with them.

Visitors to The Postal Museum both

young and old will learn all about how the

Victorians brought Christmas to the

masses, with workshops based on some

of these favoured festive customs.

Families will be able to delve into these

traditions further with workshops to create

unique and handmade Victorian inspired

gifts for their loved ones.

There will also be a storytelling

session inspired by the world’s first

Christmas card, sent in 1843 and on

display in the museum; scented

Christmas card-making classes and

wrapping paper-printing for children.

Adults will get the chance to practise

their calligraphy writing skills, as well as

learning how to make their own

handmade natural products at a number

of exclusive evening workshops.

And there’s plenty going on below

ground, too. For a limited time only,

Mail Rail’s subterranean ride, taking

visitors back in time to the heyday of the

postal railway, will get a Christmas

makeover. From wartime wives wishing

husbands Merry Christmas from afar, to

the broadcast of the first King’s Speech

on the BBC, this projection is set to get

visitors into the Christmas spirit in a

unique way.

The museum’s on-site café The

Counter will have a range of Christmas

treats and hot drinks to warm their

visitors up, as well as a shop for them to

find that special gift.

Family activities, all included with

ticket entry, will take place until Saturday

21 December. Adult evening events

require advanced booking and have an

additional fee.


Filippo Albacini (1777-1858) The Wounded Achilles, 1825, marble, Chatsworth House Photograph

© The Devonshire Collections, Chatsworth. Reproduced by permission of Chatsworth Settlement Trustees.

TROY: MYTH AND REALITY

The stories of the Trojan Wars and

consequent journeys made by Aeneas

and Odysseus have been spoken about

for over 3,000 years, so it’s little wonder

they are the focus of the major new

BP exhibition at The British Museum.

It reveals the lasting legacy of the

stories told by Homer and Virgil, which

have been retold and reinterpreted right

up to the present day with books such as

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker,

and, of course, the 2004 film version

starring Brad Pitt and Eric Bana as

Achilles and Hector retrospectively. The

show highlights work inspired by the

tales of war, love and loss that are

wrapped up in the Trojan cycle of myths

and passed down through generations.

This is the first major Troy exhibition in

the UK, and includes nearly 300 objects

loaned from 28 museums around the

world – many having arrived from Berlin

Museums having been loaned for the

first time in nearly 150 years.

In the ancient story, Achilles is the

greatest of all of the Greek fighters, but

also a deeply human hero. His eventual

death is caused by an arrow the Trojan

prince Paris who shoots through his

heel, the only part of his body not

protected through the efforts of his

divine mother (hence the famous

‘Achilles heel’ we still use in everyday

language).

At the heart of the legend of Troy are

the story’s fascinating and complex

characters, from enigmatic Helen to wily

Odysseus, whose hopes, fears and trials

embody the universal human experience.

Their stories are all explored in this

spacious exhibition, as well as a new

chance to re-examine Helen not just as a

beautiful victim or a feared seductress,

but as her own woman.

Central to the exhibition are the main

themes of love, war, violence and human

endeavour. It is an interesting reflection

indeed, that even in these rapidly

changing times with the internet and

technological advances quickly starting

to dictate how humans respond to

situations rather than making instinctual

decisions, the curators have managed to

highlight how actually, not much has

changed – the exhibition still feels

relatable. It also includes two responses

to key objects created with participants

from two charities, Crisis and Waterloo

Uncovered, to highlight how the

experiences of characters in the story

resonate with displaced people and

soldiers today.

The exhibition is open now at the

British Museum, and will run through to

March next year. The nearest tube station

is Tottenham Court Road, which is on

the Northern Line. Lucie Henry

JAMES MYLNE: A DECADE OF

SHADY BUSINESS AT FITZROVIA

Ten years since his first public

exhibition, which was the first to ever

exhibit ballpoint art in Europe, James

Mylne’s first public solo show of his

work in four years, A Decade of Shady

Business, which has been about a year

in the making, opens at The Fitzrovia

Gallery on 11 December.

Some of his largest originals to

ever be exhibited will be on show which,

for the first time directly addresses

contentious political subjects in a

bold way.

There will be about 12 new unexhibited

originals as well as a small

selection of hand finished work and

lightbox pieces. Some of the most

arresting portraits immortalise two of the

most contentious political figures of the

moment, Boris Johnson and Jair

Bolsonaro.

Mylne has painstakingly recreated the

current British Prime Minister in the

guise of arch villain The Joker, in a nod

to the new Joaquin Phoenix blockbuster.

It is part of a small series of drawings

Mylne is doing on world leaders for the

Mayfair exhibition as he believes it’s part

of an artist’s job to capture historically

relevant moments in the mood of the

time.

Mylne using ballpoint pen to draw

Fire Bolsonaro.

Meanwhile the damning portrayal of

Brazilian PM Bolsonaro sees the

controversial world leader captured with

the flames of the Amazon pouring from

his eyes.

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TOUCHING THE VOID

A lot has happened in the great

outdoors since the epic on Siula Grande

in 1985. Nowadays, rich clients are

hauled up Mount Everest by Sherpa

guides and dine out on it ever after. City

bankers relax on urban climbing walls

seeking challenges of a different kind.

Back in the day, mountaineers started

to shun military style assaults on the

highest peaks in favour of alpine style

climbing, a rope of just two fit athletes,

lightly laden, summitting quickly and,

crucially, returning to base camp safely.

A lot of climbers also prefer remote

mountains away from the altitude

tourists and so it was with Joe Simpson

and Simon Yates, who set off for the

unclimbed West Face of Siula Grande in

Peru, with consummate skill, decent kit

and only each other to rely on. In

isolated ranges like the Andes, there are

no helicopters, no phones and no hope

of rescue if something goes wrong.

The pair’s thrilling first ascent

encompassed spectacular flutings,

enormous cornices and bottomless

crevasses, with fear and danger at every

turn – the satisfaction of man pitted

against mountain.

As is often the case, it is the descent

which is most testing. Not far from the

summit, Simpson fell on an ice cliff and

badly fractured his leg so Yates lowered

him physically down the mountain on

the rope which joined them, hour upon

hour, until their awful plight precipitated

a decision fundamental to the spirit of

climbing.

Touching The Void was written by

Joe Simpson in 1988, telling of his life

or death struggle for survival on the

treacherous terrain in Peru. The book

brought into public consciousness the

‘other’ reason why people choose to

climb, to explore the mountains of the

mind. As Joe memorably observed, ‘you

don’t die of a broken leg’ and his perilous

journey down the face, broken and alone,

has drawn countless parallels with people

in all walks of life overcoming the odds

through sheer grit and determination.

The staging of this inspirational story

and BAFTA-winning film has now arrived

Josh Williams (Joe), Patrick McNamee (Richard), Fiona Hampton (Sarah) and Angus

Yellowlees (Simon) in Touching The Void, London 2019. Photos: Michael Wharley.

in the West End, in a production by War

Horse co-director Tom Morris.

Contorted, ice-like structures convey the

grand scale of a vast mountain and the

climbing route up and down the face,

while the narrative is recounted by a

spirit guide in the form of Joe’s sister,

Sarah (Fiona Hampton), from the story’s

own base camp at the Clachaig pub in

Glencoe, Scotland.

Aside from Joe (Josh Williams), the

cast seem slightly ill at ease with the

horror of what befell the pair on Siula

Grande. At times, it’s a difficult watch.

And, it is hard not to be moved by the

strains of Etta James echoing Simpson’s

harrowing crawl down the moraine

spurred on by his vexation at the

repeating mental loop of Boney M’s Brown

Girl in the Ring. Some wry amusement

also comes from Richard (Patrick

McNamee), a backpacker acquaintance

the climbers meet in Lima, patiently

waiting at camp with Simon Yates (Angus

Yellowlees), whose stunned realisation

that his friend is not dead makes for a

sudden, dramatic conclusion. Scary,

thought-provoking stuff.

Jemma Court


20

PLAYS

GHOST STORIES

After exhilarating audiences across the world,

Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson’s worldwide

cult phenomenon is back to haunt the West

End, and it’s more spine-tingling and terrifying

than ever.

AMBASSADORS THEATRE

West Street, WC2 (020 7395 5405)

THE LION THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE

Step through the wardrobe this winter into the

magical kingdom of Narnia for the mystical

adventures in a faraway land.

BRIDGE THEATRE

One Tower Bridge, SE1 (0843 208 1846)

THE COMEDY ABOUT A BANK ROBBERY

One enormous diamond, eight incompetent

crooks and a snoozing security guard. What

could possibly go right?

CRITERION THEATRE

Piccadilly Circus, (020 7492 0810)

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG

A Polytechnic amateur drama group are

putting on a 1920s murder mystery and

everything that can go wrong... does!

DUCHESS THEATRE

Catherine Street, WC2 (0330 333 4810)

TOUCHING THE VOID

The staging celebrates the 30th anniversary of

the publication of Joe Simpson’s best-selling

memoir, charting his extraordinary struggle

for survival on the Siula Grande in the

Peruvian Andes.

DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE

St Martin’s Lane, WC2 (020 7492 1552)

THE WOMAN IN BLACK

An innocent outsider, a suspicious rural

community, a gothic house and a misty marsh

are the ingredients of this Victorian ghost story.

FORTUNE THEATRE

Russell Street, WC2 (0844 871 7626)

NOISES OFF

With technical brilliance and split-second timing,

Michael Frayn’s comedy looks behind the scenes

with a company of actors in a hilarious tribute to

the unpredictability of life in the theatre.

GARRICK THEATRE

Charing Cross Road, WC2 (0330 333 4811)

IAN McKELLEN ON STAGE

Ian McKellen brings his one-man show to the

West End for a limited run following a UK tour

celebrating his 80th birthday this year.

HAROLD PINTER THEATRE

Panton Street, SW1 (0844 871 7622)

The Cast of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Royal National Theatre

Plays in repertory

OLIVIER THEATRE

TRANSLATIONS

Following a sold-out run in 2018, Ian Rickson’s

production of Brian Friel's masterpiece returns.

MY BRILLIANT FRIEND

Based on the celebrated novels by Elena

Ferrante, an epic story of love, violence,

ambition and self-destruction.

LYTTELTON THEATRE

THREE SISTERS

Love and longing in 1960s Nigeria. Inua Ellams

returns to the National with his heart-breaking

re-telling of Chekhov’s masterpiece.

'MASTER HAROLD’… AND THE BOYS

Athol Fugard’s masterwork explores the nature

of friendship, and the ways people are capable

of hurting even those they love.

DORFMAN THEATRE

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE

Adapted by Joel Horwood and directed by Katy

Rudd, this adventure will excite, unsettle and

thrill those brave enough to face its hidden

depths.

NATIONAL THEATRE

South Bank, SE1 (020 7452 3000)

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED

CHILD PARTS I & II

Stage play based on the Harry Potter franchise

written by Jack Thorne, based on an original

story by J.K Rowling.

PALACE THEATRE

Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (0330 333 4813)

Photo:Brinkhoff Moegenburg

DEATH OF A SALESMAN

Marianne Elliott co-directs Arthur Miller’s 1949

classic, bringing a unique vision to one of the

greatest plays of the twentieth century, seen

through the eyes of an African-American family.

PICCADILLY THEATRE

Denman Street, W1 (020 7452 3000)

CYRANO DE BERGERAC

James McAvoy returns to the West End in an

inventive new adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s

masterwork by Martin Crimp, with direction by

Jamie Lloyd.

PLAYHOUSE THEATRE

Northumberland Ave WC2· (0844 871 7631)

THE MOUSETRAP

Agatha Christie’s whodunnit is the longest

running play of its kind in the history of

British theatre.

ST MARTIN’S THEATRE

West Street, WC2 (0844 499 1515)

A TASTE OF HONEY

Shelagh Delaney’s taboo-breaking 1950s play

transfers to the West End in a new staging

featuring re-arranged songs from the jazz era.

TRAFALGAR STUDIOS

Whitehall, SW1 (0844 871 7632)

MAGIC GOES WRONG

The original Mischief Company play a hapless

gang of magicians presenting a charity event.

As the accidents spiral out of control, so does

their fund-raising target.

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE

Strand, WC2 (0330 333 4814)


MUSICALS

WAITRESS

Hit Broadway musical brought to life by an

all-female creative team, featuring original

music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles.

ADELPHI THEATRE

Strand, WC2 (020 3725 7060)

TINA

New stage musical reveals the untold story

of Tina Turner, a woman who dared to defy

the bounds of her age, gender and race.

ALDWYCH THEATRE

The Aldwych, WC2 (0845 200 7981)

WICKED

Hit Broadway story of how a clever,

misunderstood girl with emerald green skin

and a girl who is beautiful and popular turn

into the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda

the Good Witch in the Land of Oz.

APOLLO VICTORIA THEATRE

Wilton Road, SW1 (0844 826 8000)

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE

New feel good musical – supported by his

mum and friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice,

beats the bullies and steps into the spotlight.

APOLLO THEATRE

Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (0330 333 4809)

SIX THE MUSICAL

Tudor Queens meet Pop Princesses in a

musical retelling the six wives of Henry VIII.

ARTS THEATRE

Great Newport Street, WC2 (020 7836 8463)

MATILDA

Critically acclaimed Royal Shakespeare

Company production of Roald Dahl’s book,

directed by Matthew Warchus.

CAMBRIDGE THEATRE

Earlham Street, WC2 (0844 800 1110)

WHITE CHRISTMAS

Brand new production of Irving Berlin’s

seasonal favourite.

DOMINION THEATRE

Tottenham Court Road, W1 (0345 200 7892)

LES MISERABLES – CONCERT STAGED

Concert staging starring Michael Ball, Alfie

Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Matt Lucas.

GIELGUD THEATRE

Shaftesbury Theatre, WC2 (0844 482 5151)

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Long running epic romance by Andrew Lloyd

Webber, set in Paris opera house where a

deformed phantom stalks his prey.

HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE

Haymarket, SW1 (0844 412 2707)

THE LION KING

Disney‘s phenomenally successful animated

film is transformed into a spectacular stage

musical, a superb evening of visual delight.

LYCEUM THEATRE

Wellington Street, WC2 (0844 871 3000)

THRILLER – LIVE

Over two hours of the non-stop hit songs that

marked Michael Jackson’s live performances.

LYRIC THEATRE

Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (0330 333 4812)

SCHOOL OF ROCK

Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage musical with

lyrics by Glenn Slater adapted from the film.

GILLIAN LYNNE THEATRE

Drury Lane, WC2 (020 7492 0810)

DEAR EVAN HANSEN

From the writers of La La Land and The Greatest

Showman, the hit Broadway musical about a

teenage boy who finds it difficult to talk to

people and make friends until a tragic accident

changes everything.

NOVELLO THEATRE

Aldwych, WC2 (0844 482 5170)

MAMMA MIA!

Hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, set

around the story of a mother and daughter on

the eve of the daughter’s wedding.

NOVELLO THEATRE

Aldwych, WC2 (0844 482 5170)

COME FROM AWAY

UK Premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical

which tells the remarkable true story of 7,000

stranded air passengers in the wake of 9/11.

PHOENIX THEATRE

Charing Cross Road, WC2 (0844 871 7627)

MARY POPPINS

The story of the world’s favourite Nanny is

spectacularly brought to the stage with its

famous and unforgettable songs.

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE

Old Compton Street W1 (0844 482 5151)

THE BOOK OF MORMON

A crude, witty and satirical show telling the

story of two young and naive mormon

missionaires.

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE

Coventry Street, W1 (0844 482 5110)

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL

Based on the much loved movie and making its

West End debut, Dolly Parton’s musical comes

to London for a strictly limited season.

SAVOY THEATRE

Strand, WC2 (020 7492 0810)

&JULIET

A hilariously irreverent new musical that

proves when it comes to love, there’s always

life after Romeo. Told through pop anthems

of the last three decades from legendary

songwriter Max Martin.

SHAFTESBURY THEATRE

Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (020 7492 0810)

ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES

The landmark, record-breaking and top-rated

television series written by the late, great John

Sullivan, becomes a new British musical.

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET

Haymarket SW1 (020 7930 8800)

AMELIE

Based on the five-time Oscar® nominated

film, starring French-Canadian stage and

screen star Audrey Brisson as ‘Amélie

Poulain’. From 29 November.

THE OTHER PALACE

Palace Street, SW1 (020 7087 7900)

HAMILTON

Lin-Manuel Miranda's multi award-winning

musical, based on one of America’s Founding

Father, Alexander Hamilton.

VICTORIA PALACE THEATRE

Victoria Street, SW1 (0844 248 5000)

WEST END PREMIERE OF OI FROG

& FRIENDS!

Produced by Kenny Wax Family

Entertainment, the West End premiere of

Oi Frog & Friends! opens at the Lyric

Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, this week.

It’s a new day at Sittingbottom school

and FROG is looking for a place to sit,

but CAT has other ideas and DOG is

doing as he’s told. Little do any of them

know that chaos is coming... ‘Cats sit on

mats, hares sit on chairs, mules sit on

stools, gophers sit on sofas and frogs sit

on logs’ – who knew there were so many

rhyming rules, and what will happen

when FROG is in charge?

21


22

BAOZILNN

It’s not easy to be a newcomer at

London Bridge. Every style of cuisine

seems to be available in Borough Market,

plus a ton of street food – and then there

are fine dining establishments in the fancy

hotels nearby and on the river.

But here is a worthy enterprise

serving barbecued meats and Cantonese

delights. Baozilnn is an offshoot of the

now well-known eatery in Soho of the

same name. It sits on a corner of

Southwark Street, just beyond the

market, so you need to seek it out if you

like Asian food.

The cooking is more than competent.

Big soup dumplings sit in fragrant broth

– both mushroom and pork varieties

were pleasingly delicate. We made a

slight mistake with the vegetables –

being very fixed on veg, considering the

friend in tow is a vegetarian, we ordered

spinach in ginger juice (£5.90, this

turned out to be a neat little tower with a

topping of crunchy peanuts) and celery

in a sesame sauce (£5.90), both of

which were fresh tasting, but fridge-cold.

We should have paid more attention to

the menu, as in ‘cold dishes’...

Mains were more inspiring. Roast

duck with rice (£13.50) had a delicious

smoky flavour. The signature king

prawns in ‘Capital sauce’ (£16.90) was

expensive but it was effectively a portion

for two and benefited from Lord knows

what special seasonings. I wish I had

that recipe, because it was fantastic.

Wines and beer are exactly as you

might expect and not too shabby. That is

where our journey ends, however, as

Baozilnn does not go in for puddings or

coffee. Probably a plethora of dumplings

is enough for any normal person when it

comes to lunch or dinner. After that, a

brisk walk past the twinkling lights of

The Shard and on to Tower Bridge, or

along the Thames towards Waterloo

could be a fitting end to a lovely evening

in this historic spot.

Sue Webster

Baozilnn

34-36 Southwark Street, SE1 1TU

020 8037 5875

HYDE PARK WINTER WONDERLAND

NEW DINING OPTIONS

Home to an extensive offering of

wintery bars and gourmet street food,

including a wealth of bratwurst vendors,

traditional German fare, veggie and

vegan delights, festive treats such as

churros, pretzels and crepes, and mulled

wine aplenty, Hyde Park Winter

Wonderland has something to offer for

every palate this Christmas.

The new pop-up restaurant Cedar &

Spruce Bar + Kitchen offers a full menu

of British favourites with an international

twist. Complete with cosy fire pits and

rustic décor, diners can enjoy a menu

curated by chef Ani Arora with seasonal,

responsibly sourced ingredients.

The famous Bavarian Village at the

Great Hall returns with everyone’s

favourite line-up of beer, Bratwürst, live

music, DJs and an Oktoberfest

ambiance, perfect for groups who want

to enjoy the lively party atmosphere.

While the Almhütte offers a cosy sitdown

space with traditional Bavarian fare

and oompah music.

Escape to the Alps at Bar Ice and be

transported to the coolest destination

around. Visitors can step inside a

beautifully crafted après ski bar, where

the bar, tables, chairs and even the

glasses are made of ice. With a

complimentary cocktail provided with

each ticket and a cloak to keep out the

-10C cold, it the perfect spot to chill.

The Bar Hütte Karaoke booths also

return with pop classics and festive

favourite singalongs. The unique, rustic

après ski experience within a mini

alpine-style village has its very own bar

and restaurant. Visitors can sing in style

and indulge in stone-baked pizzas and

custom drinks. This is an unmissable

mountain hideaway, perfect for corporate

groups or friends and family.


This Is London - 6 December 2019

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